Review by Frank Plowright

In real years terms, Complete Case Files 47 picks up in 2008 and continues into 2009, as ever reprinting material both from the weekly 2000AD and the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine, with the content separated into different sections.

It’s only Judge Dredd creator John Wagner whose contributions run any longer than four episodes, and there’s considerable variety to his work from the largely wordless chase episode to two different, but eventually equally bleak Christmas stories. His major work here is ‘The Ecstasy’, running to ten chapters. A drug deal is interrupted by a vigilante who kills everyone and takes the money, leaving the product to be taken by a pair of young perps. What from Dredd’s viewpoint is standard detection is complicated by the unusual nature of what’s been stolen and an unkillable killer. Paul Marshall (sample art left) defines events clearly all the way to a final panel explaining everything. It’s the type of well-paced thriller Wagner can almost create in his sleep by now, yet is rarely matched by other writers.

However, Al Ewing is really coming along with clever, well-structured plots featuring strong ideas and an infusion of dark comedy hallmarking the best of Dredd. His opener deals with mutant terrorists, there’s a good pastiche of 1960s film and TV icons still making a point, and a neatly told tale about smuggling among other highlights.

There’s very little disappointing art, and a fair amount that’s spectacular. Anything from Dave Taylor is a treat, Mike Collins (sample art right) is excellent on the chase story, and it’s great to see Colin Wilson on Dredd. His art is extremely understated, but absolutely rock solid in terms of telling the story.

Gordon Rennie is unfortunate to be represented in a collection where the writing’s so good overall, leaving his two contributions as satisfactory, but no more. Ian Edginton’s ‘High Spirits’ has the benefit of stunning art from Taylor, but also adds to Dredd’s world, while Pat Mills doesn’t, but hits exactly the right tone with the four chapters of ‘Birthday Boy’. It features a clever gimmick, and a great slimy salesman.

‘Backlash’ was the title story of Judge Dredd: Tour of Duty – Backlash, and it’s one of Wagner’s serious spells, again dipping his toes into the murky political imperatives of Mega-City One. Senior Judges have set against Dredd and are forcing an election for Chief Judge, confident they have the numbers. Wagner has Dredd weighing his options coupled with mutant tension as they fear recent reforms will be abolished. It’s tense, the outcome is uncertain, and it sets up future stories. Carl Critchlow’s art is a little sketchier than his usual style, but packs a lot in while ensuring clarity among chaos.

This was a good period for Dredd, making Complete Case Files 47 a strong collection, resulting in Dredd’s exile to the Cursed Earth, which is featured in Complete Case Files 48.